INSECT A. 
1 77 
Order Hymenoptera. 
The Ichneumon Flies chiefly represent this order, and Mr. 
Walker considers that they are new, but advises the publication of 
descriptions to be deferred. Out of thirteen insects which he has 
examined in this order, eight are indigenous to the Island. 
Fain. Poneridce. 
Pheidole, Westw. 
P. pusilla, Westw. — The common, small, red Ant is identical 
■with the house Ant of Madeira, and is also found in London. 
Without exception it is the most abundant insect at St. Helena, 
where it exists in swarms on both high and low land. Most houses 
are plagued with it, more especially in wet weather, when it 
is driven indoors. It attacks everything and even finds its way 
into beds, hats, brushes, and clothing. Out of doors it exists in 
colonies under stones on barren land, where it is difficult to dis- 
cover what it feeds upon. A colony generally consists of five 
distinct forms of inhabitants. First, there are large numbers of 
the ordinary-sized ants or workers ; second, a lesser number of 
larger ants, about one-third of an inch long ; third, a lesser number 
again of still larger ants, about half an inch long, which appear to 
be females ; fourth, a moderate number of winged ants ; and fifth, a 
large number of transparent white eggs or larvae. When one of 
these settlements is disturbed, the small ants or workers rush about 
most frantically, each laying hold of and carrying away one of the 
larvae. There is another species which appears to be confined to 
the town ; it is slightly larger, quite black, and more active in its 
movements. 
Fain. Spfiegidce. 
Ampulex, Jur. 
A. compressa, Fabr. — This most brilliant green, blue, and red 
Fly is rather abundant in the summer months, on the low land about 
Jamestown, where it feeds upon cockroaches. It is common in 
India and Ceylon, but at St. Helena is erroneously called Spanish 
Fly, for it is a green beetle and not a fly at all that supplies the 
cantharides for blisters. It inhabits, also, E. Africa, Mauritius, 
Hindostan, China, and Java. 
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